Taft, which recently combined with Sherman & Howard, welcomed Roxann Lucas to the firm’s Public Finance and Economic Development group in its Phoenix office. Focusing her practice on public and commercial finance, Lucas primarily represents clients in tax-exempt and taxable transactions.

“I could not pass up the opportunity to join Taft’s expansive team of legal thought leaders, problem solvers, and deal makers while also being given personal flexibility and a curated professional experience,” said Lucas. “My Arizona clients will be better supported by a national platform, and I will be better supported by a firm that fosters creativity, innovation, and inclusion.”

Lucas has received numerous accolades for her work in finance and Native American law. She has been ranked by London-based Chambers and Partners and was listed in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in five practice areas. Lucas was also recognized as a “2022 AZ Business Leader” and “Most Influential Women in Arizona Business.”

“Roxann is an outstanding addition to the team,” said partner and leader of Taft’s Public Finance group Cory Kalanick. “Her experience in public finance and Native American law and her passion for serving the community will be invaluable to our firm and its clients.”

Currently, Lucas serves as a member of the City of Whitefish, Montana Community Housing Committee. She has formerly served on the international board of directors of Meritas, a global alliance of independent law firms, and as the chair of the board of directors of Native American Connections, Inc., which owns and operates 18 sites offering a continuum of affordable housing, behavioral health, and community development services.

Taft’s Public Finance practice is regarded as among the best in the field and has a long history of providing innovative financing solutions to its clients. The firm has been behind the bonding of billions of dollars in municipal and public financing projects, such as airports, medical facilities, affordable housing, cultural centers, utilities, schools, educational institutions, professional sports facilities, convention centers, streets, highways, and transit stations.

In the 2024 Bond Buyer rankings, Taft/Sherman & Howard ranked first in Nevada for bond and disclosure counsel, first in New Mexico for disclosure counsel, among the top five in Colorado and New Mexico for bond counsel and other varying aspects of municipal publicly offered bond sales, first in Wisconsin and sixth in Utah for underwriter counsel, and 19th nationally as disclosure counsel. The firm has also earned high honors in 2024 Far West Midyear Bond Buyer rankings, LSEG Bond Buyer 2024 In Statistics Annual Review, and Best Lawyers/Best Law Firms.

With the addition of Lucas, the Public Finance group has seen significant growth in recent months with the joining of attorneys Dan Opperman and Camila Gutierrez Writtenberry in Albuquerque, NM, and Rhonda Skoby and Rachel Lochner in Minneapolis, MN.

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, Sherman & Howard combined with Taft, creating a firm powered by more than 1,000 attorneys from Washington, D.C. to the Mountain West. The combination has enabled the combined firm to deepen its bench of attorneys and strengthen its service offerings.